System and method for controlled cleaning in a cane harvester

ABSTRACT

A control system for a harvester having a crop cleaner for cleaning a cut crop. The control system includes a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The processor is configured to receive an input corresponding to a desired cleaning level of the crop, monitor the actual cleaning level, and control the crop cleaner based on feedback from monitoring the actual cleaning level to move the cleaning level of the crop towards the desired cleaning level of the crop.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/302,100 filed on Mar. 1, 2016, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a cane harvester and a method ofcontrolling cane cleaning in a cane harvester that cuts and cleans acrop, such as sugar cane.

The harvester generally separates the crop into billets, which areejected into a vehicle alongside the harvester, and residue, which isejected back onto the field. The residue adds nutrients back into thesoil for next season's crop. The billets are taken by the vehicle to amill for processing, e.g., into sugar. The cleaning process does notnecessarily separate all extraneous plant matter from the billets noreject each and every billet into the vehicle. Some extraneous plantmatter may be ejected into the vehicle and some billets may be ejectedback onto the field. Extraneous plant matter ejected into the vehicle isalso taken back to the mill, along with the billets, where it may befurther separated from the billets and used as fuel.

SUMMARY

Various factors, such as fuel prices, distance from the mill, and thecost of replenishing soil nutrient levels, determine whether and howmuch extraneous plant matter is valuable at the mill. As such, it may beadvantageous to adjust the level of crop cleaning to control the amountof extraneous plant matter ejected onto the field or taken to the mill.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a control system for a harvesterhaving a crop cleaner for cleaning a cut crop. The control systemincludes a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. Theprocessor is configured to receive an input corresponding to a desiredcleaning level of the crop, monitor an actual cleaning level, andcontrol the crop cleaner based on feedback from monitoring the actualcleaning level to move the cleaning level of the crop towards thedesired cleaning level of the crop.

In another aspect the disclosure provides a control system for aharvester having a fan for cleaning a crop and a motor for driving thefan. The control system includes a processor, a memory, and ahuman-machine interface. The processor is configured to receive a loadsignal corresponding to a load on the motor, and control the fan speedbased at least in part on the load signal.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides harvester having an inletfor receiving a crop including stalks and extraneous plant matter, ablade for cutting the crop into billets and cut extraneous plant matter,and a separator. The separator includes a cleaning chamber for at leastpartially separating the billets and the cut extraneous plant matter, acrop cleaner for separating portions of the crop in the cleaningchamber, a motor operatively coupled to the fan, and a hood having aresidue outlet. A sensor is configured to generate a load signalcorresponding to a load on the separator, and a control unit isconfigured to receive the signal from the sensor. The control unit isprogrammed to quantify the crop ejected from the residue outlet based onat least the load signal.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a control system for aharvester having a crop cleaner for cleaning a cut crop. The controlsystem includes a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface.The processor is configured to receive an input corresponding to adesired cleaning level of the crop, monitor the actual cleaning level,and control the harvester ground speed based on feedback from monitoringthe actual cleaning level to move the cleaning level of the crop towardsthe desired cleaning level of the crop.

Specifically, the control includes adjusting the harvester ground speedto move the actual cleaning level of the crop during harvester operationtowards the desired cleaning level of the crop.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a control system for aharvester having a crop cleaner for cleaning a cut crop, the controlsystem including a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface.The processor is configured to receive an input corresponding to adesired cleaning level of the crop, monitor the actual cleaning level,and recommend to an operator a change in the harvester ground speed foreffectuating a change in the cleaning level, wherein the recommendationis based on feedback from monitoring the actual cleaning level to movethe cleaning level of the crop towards the desired cleaning level of thecrop.

Specifically, the recommendation is configured to move the cleaninglevel of the crop towards the desired cleaning level of the crop. Also,the recommendation is displayed in a user interface. Also, therecommendation is in the form of a new ground speed. Also, therecommendation is in the form of a suggestion to increase or decreaseground speed.

Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a harvester, such as a sugar cane harvester,having a separator and a controlled cleaning system in accordance withone implementation of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the separator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a system for controlling a fan speedof the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a table illustrating a conversion factor in a control systemof the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a controlled cleaning system of theharvester of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any constructions of the disclosure are explained in detail, itis to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting otherconstructions and of being practiced or of being carried out in variousways.

FIG. 1 illustrates a harvester 10, such as a sugarcane chopperharvester, including a prime mover (not shown), such as an internalcombustion engine, for providing motive power and a throttle 11 (FIG. 3)for controlling a speed of the prime mover and thus a ground speed ofthe harvester 10. The harvester includes a main frame 12 supported onwheels 14 having continuous tracks 15, tires, or other traction devicesthat engage a support surface 16 (e.g., the ground or field). The tracks15 interact directly with the support surface 16 and are responsible forharvester 10 movement and tractive effort, although in otherconstructions the harvester 10 is provided only with wheels (rather thantracks as illustrated). An operator's cab 18 is mounted on the frame 12and contains a seat 20 (FIG. 3) for an operator. A pair of crop lifters22 having side by side augers or scrolls is mounted to the front of theframe 12, which operate on opposite sides of a row of crop to beharvested. The crop lifters 22 cooperate with a base cutter (not shown)including counter-rotating discs which cut off the stalks of crop closeto the support surface 16. A topper 24 extends from the frame 12 on aboom 25. The topper 24 has a blade or blades 26 for cutting the tops offcrop.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section through a chopper 28 and a separator55. The chopper 28 cuts the crop and the separator 55 receives the cutcrop from the chopper 28 and generally separates the cut crop by way ofa crop cleaner, which will be described in greater detail below. Thecrop cleaner may include any suitable mechanism for cleaning the cutcrop, such as a fan (as in the illustrated construction that will bedescribed below), a source of compressed air, a rake, a shaker, or anyother mechanism that discriminates various types of crop parts byweight, size, shape, etc. in order to separate extraneous plant matterfrom billets. The separator 55 may include any combination of one ormore of a cleaning chamber 32, a cleaning chamber housing 34, a cropcleaner such as a fan 40, a fan enclosure 36, a motor 50 driving the fan40, a hood 38 having an opening 54, and a centrifugal blower wheel 46.

The separator 55 is coupled to the frame 12 and located downstream ofthe crop lifters 22 for receiving cut crop from the chopper 28. Thechopper 28 includes counter-rotating drum cutters 30 with overlappingblades for cutting the stalks of crop, such as cane C, into billets B,which are pieces of the stalk. In other constructions, the chopper 28may include any suitable blade or blades for cutting the stalks of crop.The crop also includes dirt, leaves, roots, and other plant matter,which will be collectively referred to herein as extraneous plantmatter, which are also cut in the chopper 28 along with the cane C. Thechopper 28 directs a stream of the cut crop (cut stalks, or billets B,and cut extraneous plant matter) to the cleaning chamber 32, which isgenerally defined by the cleaning chamber housing 34, the fan enclosure36, and/or the hood 38, all of which are coupled to the frame 12 andlocated just downstream of the chopper 28 for receiving cut crop fromthe chopper 28. The fan enclosure 36 is coupled to the cleaning chamberhousing 34 and may include deflector vanes 31.

The hood 38 is coupled to the fan enclosure 36 and has a domed shape, orother suitable shape, and includes an opening 54 angled out from theharvester 10 and facing slightly down onto the field 16. In someconstructions, the opening 54 may be generally perpendicular to thedrive shaft 52. The hood 38 directs cut crop through the opening 54 tothe outside of the harvester 10, e.g., for discharging a portion of cutcrop removed from the stream of cut crop back onto the field (as will bedescribed in greater detail below).

Mounted for rotation in the cleaning chamber 32 is the fan 40. Forexample, the fan 40 may be in the form of an extractor fan having axialflow fan blades 42 radiating out from, and joined to, a hub 44. In theillustrated construction, the fan 40 (or other crop cleaner) isconfigured to draw air and extraneous plant matter from the cleaningchamber 32. In other constructions, the fan 40 (or other crop cleaner)may be configured to blow rather than extract, i.e., to blow or push theair through the cleaning chamber 32 to clean the crop. The fan 40 mayinclude other types of fans with other types of blades, such as acentrifugal fan, amongst others. The centrifugal blower wheel 46 may bemounted for rotation with the fan 40 radially inwardly of the deflectorvanes 31. For example, a plurality of generally right-angular blowerblades 48 may be fixed to the underside of the centrifugal blower wheel46 radiating out therefrom.

The motor 50, such as a hydraulic motor, includes a drive shaft 52operatively coupled to drive the fan 40. For example, the drive shaft 52may be keyed to the hub 44 or operatively coupled in other suitable waysto drive the fan 40. The motor 50 may also be operatively coupled todrive the centrifugal blower wheel 46 in a similar manner. In otherconstructions, the motor 50 may be electric, pneumatic, or may includeany other suitable type of motor, an engine, or a prime mover to drivethe fan 40 and/or the centrifugal blower wheel 46.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a conveyor 56 is coupled to the frame 12 forreceiving cleaned crop from the separator 55. The conveyor 56 terminatesat a discharge opening 58 (or outlet) elevated to a height suitable fordischarging cleaned crop into a collection receptacle of a vehicle (notshown), such as a truck, wagon, or the like following alongside theharvester 10. A secondary cleaner 60 may be located adjacent thedischarge opening 58 for cleaning the crop a second time before beingdischarged to the vehicle. For example, the secondary cleaner 60 mayinclude a fan, compressed air, a rake, a shaker, or other suitabledevice for cleaning the crop.

Briefly, the billets B are generally separated from the extraneous plantmatter in the cleaning chamber 32 as the fan 40 draws the generallylighter extraneous plant matter into the hood 38 and out the opening 54.All the cut crop directed through the opening 54, which is ejected backonto the field, is referred to herein as residue. Residue typicallyincludes primarily the extraneous plant matter (which has generally beencut) and may include some billets B.

The cleaning chamber housing 34 directs the cleaned crop to the conveyor56. The cleaned crop typically includes primarily billets B, althoughsome extraneous plant matter may still be present in the cleaned crop.Thus, some extraneous plant matter may be discharged with the billets Bfrom the discharge opening 58. Extraneous plant matter discharged fromthe discharge opening 58 to the vehicle is referred to herein as trash.

Illustrated schematically in FIG. 3, a hydraulic circuit 62 for poweringthe motor 50 is operatively coupled thereto. In other constructions, thecircuit 62 may be electric, pneumatic, may comprise mechanical linkages,etc. A detailed description of one example of a hydraulic circuit for aharvester fan can be found in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0342118,jointly owned with the present application, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

For example, the hydraulic circuit 62 is a closed-loop hydrauliccircuit, which is powered by a pump 64. The pump 64 may be driven by theprime mover (not shown) of the harvester 10 or other power source.

With reference to FIG. 3, the harvester 10 also includes an operatorinterface 66 (e.g., a display, buttons, a touch screen, a graphical userinterface, any combination thereof, or the like) with which a user caninput settings, preferences, commands, etc. to control the harvester 10.The operator interface is operatively coupled with a control unit 68,such as a microprocessor-based electronic control unit or the like, forreceiving signals from the operator interface 66 and from severalsensors and for sending signals to control various components of theharvester 10 (examples of which will be described in greater detailbelow). Signals, as used herein, may include electronic signals (e.g.,by circuit or wire), wireless signals (e.g., by satellite, internet,mobile telecommunications technology, a frequency, a wavelength,Bluetooth®), or the like. The control unit 68 may include a memory andprogramming, such as algorithms. The harvester 10 also includes a globalpositioning system (“GPS”) 70 operatively connected to send signals tothe control unit 68. The aforementioned sensors may include a yieldmonitoring sensor 72, a billet loss sensor 74, a fan speed sensor 76, aload sensor 78, a moisture sensor 80, a trash sensor 82, and a groundspeed sensor 84. The control unit 68 is programmed to include amonitoring system that monitors harvester functions, switch states,ground speed, and system pressures as will be described in greaterdetail below.

The control unit 68 may also have other inputs, such as an elevatorspeed sensor (not shown) for detecting a speed of the conveyor 56, achopper speed sensor (not shown) for detecting a speed of thecounter-rotating drum cutters 30 or other type of chopper 28, and a basecutter speed sensor (not shown) for detecting a speed of thecounter-rotating discs, or other cutting device, of the base cutter. Thecontrol unit 68 may also have other outputs, such as for controlling thefan pump 64, the fan motor 50, a pump, valve, or motor (not shown) ofthe centrifugal blower wheel 46, the speed of the chopper 28, theheight, direction, speed, and input control of the base cutter (notshown), the secondary cleaner 60, and the height and input control ofthe topper 24.

The yield monitoring sensor 72 is coupled to the conveyor 56 and sends acrop yield signal to the control unit 68 corresponding to an amount(e.g., a mass or a volume) of crop being discharged from the dischargeopening 58.

The billet loss sensor 74 may include one or more accelerometers and/orany sensor that measures displacement or strain, or the like. The billetloss sensor 74 is associated with the separator 55, or more specificallycoupled to the separator 55. For example, the billet loss sensor 74 maybe associated with, or coupled to, the cleaning chamber housing 34, thefan enclosure 36, the hood 38, the fan 40, the fan blades 42, the hub44, the centrifugal blower wheel 46, the right angular blower blades 48,the drive shaft 52, etc., or any of the associated structures. In theillustrated construction, the billet loss sensor 74 is coupled to thehood 38 (FIG. 3). The billet loss sensor 74 is configured for sending asignal to the control unit 68 corresponding to each billet B passingthrough the separator 55 and, more specifically, out the opening 54. Forexample, the billet loss sensor 74 includes an accelerometer thatdetects the impact of a billet B hitting the fan 40 and/or a housingpart, such as the hood 38. In other constructions, the billet losssensor 74 may include a piezoelectric sensor or employ another suitablesensing technology. The billet loss sensor 74 sends a signal to thecontrol unit 68 each time a billet is detected. The control unit 68records and counts the billets and may associate the billet signal datawith a time, a location (e.g., from the GPS 70), etc.

The fan speed sensor 76 may be associated with, or coupled to, the fan40, and more specifically may be coupled to, for example, the blades 42,the hub 44, the drive shaft 52, etc., or to any suitable locationadjacent the fan 40. For example, the fan sensor 76 may include magnets,proximity sensors, Hall Effect sensors, etc., to count revolutions ofthe blades 42, the drive shaft 52, or other part of the fan 40 and sendsignals to the control unit 68 corresponding to, and used to determine,the fan speed. The fan sensor 76 may also include other suitable sensingtechnologies for determining fan speed.

The moisture sensor 80 is positioned to detect moisture of the crop. Themoisture sensor 80 may include a near infrared sensor or other suitablemoisture-detecting technologies. For example, the moisture sensor 80 isdisposed on the harvester 10 and may be positioned in the chopper 28, inthe separator 55, and/or in the conveyor 56 and, more specifically, inany of the components of the harvester 10 associated therewith asdescribed above. In the illustrated construction, the moisture sensor 80is disposed in the separator 55 and, more specifically, in the hood 38.The moisture sensor 80 sends a signal to the control unit 68corresponding to a level of moisture in the crop.

The trash sensor 82 may include vision technology (e.g., a camera)disposed proximate the conveyor 56 and/or the discharge opening 58 andsending a signal to the control unit 68 corresponding to total yielddischarged from the discharge opening 58 and/or an amount of trash beingdischarged from the discharge opening 58. The trash sensor 82 mayquantify the amount of trash as an absolute amount or as a percentage oftotal yield through the discharge opening 58. The trash sensor 82 may bedisposed in the conveyor 56. The trash sensor 82 may include othersensing technologies for determining the amount of trash beingdischarged from the discharge opening 58.

The ground speed sensor 84, which may include a speedometer, a radarsensor, a velocimeter such as a laser surface velocimeter, a wheelsensor, or any other suitable technology for sensing vehicle speed, isconfigured to send a ground speed signal to the control unit 68corresponding to the speed of the harvester 10 with respect to thesupport surface 16. The ground speed signal may also be sent by the GPS70.

The load sensor 78 senses a load on the separator 55. For example, theload sensor 78 may measure a load on the motor 50 and may include anysuitable type of sensor for the type of motor employed, e.g., electric,pneumatic, hydraulic, etc. In some constructions, the load sensor 78 mayinclude a strain gage(s) for measuring a torque load or an amp meter formeasuring an electrical load. The load on the motor 50 may also bemeasured indirectly, such as by measuring a load on the fan 40 and/orthe centrifugal blower wheel 46. In some constructions, such as theillustrated construction employing a hydraulic motor 50, the load sensor78 may include a pressure transducer, or other pressure sensingtechnology, in communication with the hydraulic circuit 62 for measuringpressure within the circuit 62. For example, the load sensor 78 may becoupled to the fan motor 50 or to the pump 64 or anywhere along thecircuit 62 to measure the associated pressure in the circuit 62. Theload sensor 78 sends load signals to the control unit 68.

The load sensor 78 measures a baseline load, or lower load limit, whenthe harvester 10 is running and no crop is being cut, and a current (orpresent) load when crop is being cut. The control unit 68 calculates aload delta, or difference between the baseline load and the currentload. Using the illustrated construction as an example, the baselineload is a baseline pressure and the current load is a current pressure.The load sensor 78 may monitor, or periodically measure, circuitpressure, i.e., the baseline load. The hydraulic circuit 62 may exhibita particular baseline pressure, or lower pressure limit, correspondingto activation of the circuit 62 for operation of the harvester 10without active processing of crop by the harvester 10 (e.g., forrotating the fan 40 without crop passing through the opening 54 of thehood 38). The baseline pressure, or lower pressure limit, may also referto another suitable related pressure threshold that can be used as acomparison to pressure in the circuit 62 during cutting and cleaning ofthe crop.

The lower pressure limit for the hydraulic circuit 62 may be monitored(e.g., periodically) during operation of the harvester 10. It will beunderstood, for example, that changes in oil viscosity as the oil warmsor cools, changes in oil level, changes in engine load, and so on, mayresult in changes to the baseline pressure of the hydraulic circuit 62.For example, due to the warming of hydraulic and gear oil as theharvester 10 operates throughout the day, the hydraulic circuit 62 maybe activated (e.g., pressurized for operation) at lower and lowerpressures. Therefore, it may be useful to update the appropriate lowerpressure limit for the control unit 68 to account for this change andthe baseline load is thus monitored.

When the harvester 10 is actively processing the crop (e.g., activelycutting, chopping, transporting, cleaning, etc.), the resistance of thecrop moving past or through the harvester 10, e.g., through theseparator 55, past the fan 40, to the opening 54 in the hood 38, maycause the pressure of the hydraulic circuit 62 to increase past thelower pressure limit to what will be referred to herein as a currentpressure (e.g., the current load). Current pressure, or current load,signals are received by the control unit 68. At any time when a currentpressure measurement is recorded by the control unit 68, a correspondingprevious lower pressure limit may be paired therewith.

Accordingly, through comparison of the current pressure of the hydrauliccircuit 62 to the corresponding lower pressure limit for the circuit 62,the control unit 68 determines delta P (e.g., the difference between thecurrent pressure and the lower pressure limit). Delta P is proportionalto a quantity (e.g., as a mass or volume) of crop actively beingprocessed or cleaned by the fan 40, then passing through the hood 38 andthe opening 54 and, ultimately, being discharged onto the field asresidue. For example, when delta P is zero, then it may be presumed thatno crop is being actively processed although the separator 55 may berunning. Furthermore, when delta P is greater than zero, then the valueof delta P is proportional to the quantity of crop being processed andthe fan speed can be controlled in a feedback loop, e.g., increased, toprovide a steady level of cleaning of the crop (FIG. 4) based at leastin part on the load signal and, furthermore, based on delta P. The levelof cleaning will be described in greater detail below.

A conversion factor 86 representing the relationship between delta P andcrop quantity may be used to convert delta P into a corresponding cropquantity, e.g., residue quantity. The conversion factor 86 may factorknown or estimated crop mass, moisture, machine functions (e.g., whetherthe harvester 10 is operating to intake crop), switch states (e.g.,whether the harvester 10 machine functions have changed), time,location, and ground speed into the quantification of residue. Forexample, the conversion factor 86 may include a function, an equation, amultiplier, etc., that can be determined from experimental data and/orfrom theory. In the illustrated construction, the conversion factor 86includes a lookup table 88 (FIG. 5) in which the control unit 68 canfind a crop quantity (e.g., 0, m1, m2, etc.) corresponding to a value ofdelta P. For example, when delta P is zero, then the crop quantity beingprocessed is zero, when delta P is 1, then the crop quantity (e.g.,residue quantity being ejected on the field 16) is m1, etc. Thus, thecontrol unit 68 quantifies, or expresses, residue as a function of atleast load delta (e.g., delta P) and may also express residue as afunction of any combination of one or more of load delta, moisture,machine functions, switch states, time, location, and ground speed. Eachquantity of residue may be a residue data point collected by the controlunit 68 to form a residue data set. Furthermore, the control unit 68 maycorrelate the quantified residue data points with corresponding GPSsignals from the GPS 70 indicating the location of each residue datapoint, thereby mapping the residue on the field.

In some constructions, as noted, the control unit 68 factors a moisturelevel of crop, based on a signal received from the moisture sensor 80into the quantification of residue. The control unit 68 may continuouslyor periodically monitor the moisture level. Crop having more moisture isheavier and harder to draw through the separator 55 and thereforerequires more power from the fan 40. Thus, moist crop may increase thecurrent pressure and skew the residue measurement “high.” Accordingly,the control unit 68 may account for moisture in the crop to correct theresidue measurement (through the conversion factor 86) using the signalfrom the moisture sensor 80, by subtracting an amount corresponding tomoisture from the current pressure measurement or by subtracting anamount corresponding to moisture from the residue measurement, or inother suitable ways, etc., to arrive at a residue measurement correctedfor moisture.

When the billet loss sensor 74 detects an energy or impact above athreshold level (e.g., the energy/impact of a billet B being shatteredby the fan 40 and/or impinging on the hood 38), the control unit 68recognizes that a billet B has passed through the separator 55, therebycounting the number of billets B in the residue being discharged ontothe field. Thus, the control unit 68 records billet loss data and mayassociate the billet loss data with the corresponding residue data andGPS data discussed above, such that an amount of billets B in theresidue (e.g., as a ratio or a percentage) can be calculated and mapped.For example, the control unit 68 may be programmed to know an averagequantity of crop in each billet (e.g., as a mass or volume) and may thenquantify the billets B as a ratio of billet quantity to residuequantity. The control unit 68 may also quantify the billets B as apercentage of total residue quantity. The control unit 68 may alsoquantify the billets B by counting the number of billets per residuequantity, per distance, and/or per area of field, etc. Furthermore, thebillets B may be quantified in any other type of numericalrepresentation or a non-numerical representation, such a comparison ofthe billets B to a baseline, another value, or a pre-set level, etc. Itshould be understood that any quantification described herein need notbe an exact determination of actual quantity and may include anestimate, approximation, or relative comparison.

The control unit 68 includes a controlled cleaning system (the sequence90 of which is illustrated in FIG. 6) allowing the user to input adesired level of cleaning. Alternatively, the desired level of cleaningmay be input into the controlled cleaning system by a sensor, such as asensor indicating a percentage of leaf trash. The desired level ofcleaning may be expressed as a desired level of billet present in theresidue, e.g., as a percentage of the residue or as any other billetquantification discussed above. The operator may input a desired levelof cleaning as an absolute or a relative amount of clean, e.g., as anumerical input (e.g., percentage, ratio, number of billets per residuequantity, distance, field area, etc.) or as a non-numerical input, suchas on a scale, a gradient, a color-coded indicator, a knob, a hapticinput, etc., or may input a desired increase or decrease of the level ofcleaning, for example by an increase/decrease switch or button(s), etc.

The level of billet present in the residue generally correspondsinversely with a level of trash passing through the conveyor dischargeopening 58, e.g., the more billet in the residue, the less trash isdischarged from the discharge opening 58 and vice versa. Thus, thecontrolled cleaning system may also, or alternatively, allow the user toinput a desired level of cleaning as a desired level of trash passingthrough the conveyor outlet 58, e.g., as a percentage of the total croppassing through the conveyor outlet or any other suitable measure. Thecontrolled cleaning system 90 may also convert an inputted desired levelof billet to a desired level of trash and vice versa.

The level of cleaning achieved is dependent on the suction pressuregenerated by the fan 40, which is proportional to a fan speed of the fan40. The higher the fan speed, the more billet B is drawn through theseparator 55 and the less trash is discharged from the discharge opening58. Thus, the fan speed can be controlled to achieve a desired level ofcleaning, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The user may input a desired levelof cleaning (e.g., as one of the billet or trash quantificationsdescribed above or as a symbol or term corresponding with one of thequantifications described above) into the operator interface 66, whichcommunicates the desired level of cleaning to the control unit 68 (e.g.,the controlled cleaning system), which controls the fan speed to achievethe desired level of cleaning. The fan speed sensor 76 continuously orperiodically sends a speed signal to the control unit 68. In a feedbackloop (FIG. 6), the control unit 68 continuously or periodically monitorsthe billet loss signals from the billet loss sensor 74 and the delta Pto determine a measured, or actual, cleaning level and controls the fanspeed, based on the signal from the fan sensor 76, to adjust thecleaning level to achieve the desired cleaning level inputted by theoperator. Achieving the desired cleaning level may include, among otherthings, the measured cleaning level at least coming within a predefinedacceptable range of the desired cleaning level. The control unit 68 maycontrol fan speed by controlling the motor 50, the pump 64, or othermotive devices.

For example, the controlled cleaning system 90 may continuously orperiodically calculate the cleaning level in terms of a percentage ofbillet B in the total residue, e.g., by calculating a proportion of theenergy/impact sensed by the billet loss sensor 74 to the correspondingresidue data. To achieve the desired cleaning level, the control unit 68may continuously or periodically adjust the fan speed until thepercentage of billet B achieves (e.g., is approximately equal to, orwithin a threshold close to) the desired cleaning level. The controlledcleaning system 90 may calculate the cleaning level by calculating trashas a percentage of crop discharged from the discharge opening 58. Asdiscussed above, the level of billet and the level of trash areinversely related, thus the control unit 68 may use either as a measureof cleaning level and can convert between the two. If the level of trashis to be used, the controlled cleaning system 90 may calculate thepercentage of trash in the crop discharged from the discharge opening 58(instead of percentage of billet B) by comparing the signals from thetrash sensor 82 and the yield monitoring sensor 72.

The controlled cleaning system 90 may also adjust the fan speed based onthe moisture signal from the moisture sensor 80. As discussed above,moisture makes crop heavier and harder to clean. The controlled cleaningsystem may increase the fan speed as more moisture is detected toimprove the effectiveness of cleaning.

The controlled cleaning system 90 may also control ground speed of theharvester 10. For example, the controlled cleaning system may beoperatively coupled to the throttle 11 to control the prime mover (notshown) to effectuate changes in the ground speed of the harvester 10.Changes in the ground speed may affect the cleaning level of the crop.The faster the harvester 10 moves through the field, the higher the rateof crop intake and, conversely, the slower the harvester 10 movesthrough the field, the lower the rate of crop intake. Raising the rateof crop intake (i.e., increasing ground speed) without changing theparameters of the crop cleaner will cause the crop cleaning level to godown, i.e., the crop ejected from the discharge 58 will be less clean,having more trash by percentage. Conversely, lowering the rate of cropintake (i.e., decreasing the ground speed) without changing theparameters of the crop cleaner will cause the crop cleaning level to goup, i.e., the crop ejected from the discharge 58 will be more clean,having less trash by percentage. As such, the ground speed may becontrolled to adjust the actual cleaning level towards the desiredcleaning level. Ground speed may be controlled alone or in conjunctionwith the other control methods discussed above, such as adjusting theparameters of the crop cleaner, to achieve the desired cleaning level.

In another construction, the controlled cleaning system 90 may recommenda change in ground speed of the harvester 10 to the operator. Forexample, the controlled cleaning system may display a message, orsuggestion, to the operator by way of a display on the user interface 66recommending that the operator effectuate changes in the ground speed ofthe harvester 10 to adjust the cleaning level as discussed above. Themessage may be in the form of a recommendation that the operatormanually adjusts the throttle 11 to effectuate the change in groundspeed, or may be in the form of a question requesting permission toautomatically adjust the ground speed (as discussed above). Therecommendation may be specific (e.g., recommending a specific new groundspeed) or general (e.g., recommending an increase or a decrease inground speed). Ground speed may be controlled alone or in conjunctionwith the other control methods discussed above, such as adjusting theparameters of the crop cleaner, to achieve the desired cleaning level.

In operation, the stalks of crop are conveyed from the base cutter 26 tothe chopper 28. The chopper 28 chops the crop and delivers a stream ofcane billets B and extraneous plant matter to the cleaning chamber 32 byway of the counter-rotating drum cutters 30. Extraneous plant matter andbillets B are at least partially separated by the separator 55. Thecontrol unit 68 monitors a load on the separator 55, such as a pressurein the hydraulic circuit 62, and quantifies the crop residue based on atleast the load signal. Moisture may be accounted for in quantifying thecrop residue. The controlled cleaning system 90 monitors baseline load,such as baseline pressure in the hydraulic circuit 62, and subtracts thebaseline load from current load, such as pressure in the hydrauliccircuit 62 during crop separation. The control unit 68 also quantifiesbillets B passing through the residue opening 54 using signals from thebillet loss sensor 74 and can express the level of crop cleaning basedon how much billet is being ejected with the residue from the opening 54(outlet) back to the field. The control unit 68 also quantifies thetrash using the trash sensor 82 and crop yield using the yieldmonitoring sensor 72 and expresses the level of crop cleaning based onhow much trash is being ejected with the billets B from the dischargeopening 58 (outlet) at the top of the conveyor 56. Thus, the controlunit 68 monitors the actual cleaning level of the crop. Based on theoperator-inputted desired cleaning level and the actual cleaning levelfeedback, the control unit 68 controls the fan 40 speed to achieve thedesired cleaning level of the crop. Thus, the control unit 68 controlsthe fan 40 speed based at least in part on the load signal. Morespecifically, the control unit 68 controls the fan 40 speed based atleast in part on a comparison between the baseline load and the currentload. The control unit 68 may account for moisture, e.g., by increasingthe fan speed 40 with increased crop moisture to improve crop cleaningwhen the crop is wet.

Thus, the disclosure provides, among other things, a harvester having acontrolled cleaning system for quantifying crop residue andautomatically controlling the separator 55 to achieve a desired level ofcrop cleaning inputted by the operator. Various features and advantagesof the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control system for a harvester having a cropcleaner for cleaning a cut crop, the crop cleaner including a fan, thecontrol system including a processor, a memory, and a human-machineinterface, the processor configured to: receive an input correspondingto a desired cleaning level of the crop; monitor an actual cleaninglevel by measuring a load on the fan; and control the crop cleaner basedat least in part on feedback from monitoring the actual cleaning level,wherein the control includes moving the actual cleaning level of thecrop during harvester operation towards the desired cleaning level ofthe crop.
 2. The control system of claim 1, the processor furtherconfigured to monitor the actual cleaning level by quantifying at leastone of billets or trash passing through an outlet of the harvester. 3.The control system of claim 2, the processor further configured to:quantify the total crop passing through the outlet, wherein the cleaninglevel is a percentage or a ratio of the total crop passing through theoutlet being at least one of billets or trash.
 4. The control system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: quantify thecrop passing through an outlet of the harvester based at least in parton a first signal received from a load sensor configured to measure theload on the fan as a load on a motor operatively coupled to drive thefan; and quantify billets passing through the outlet based at least inpart on a second signal received from a billet loss sensor configured todetect billets passing through the outlet.
 5. The control system ofclaim 4, wherein the load sensor includes a pressure sensor configuredto measure pressure in a hydraulic circuit operatively coupled to themotor.
 6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: monitor a baseline pressure of the hydrauliccircuit; and quantify the crop by comparing the measured pressure to thebaseline pressure of the hydraulic circuit.
 7. The control system ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to control a speedof the fan speed by controlling a pump for a hydraulic circuitconfigured to drive the fan.
 8. The control system of claim 1, whereinthe input corresponding to a desired cleaning level of the crop includesat least one of input from a user or input from a sensor.
 9. The controlsystem of claim 1, wherein the crop cleaner includes at least one of afan, a source of compressed air, a shaker, or a rake.
 10. A controlsystem for a harvester having a fan for cleaning a crop and a motor fordriving the fan, the control system including a processor, a memory, anda human-machine interface, the processor configured to: receive a loadsignal corresponding to a load on the motor; and control a speed of thefan based at least in part on the load signal.
 11. The control system ofclaim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to receive aninput corresponding to a desired cleaning level of crop and to controlat least one of harvester ground speed or the speed of the fan to causean actual cleaning level of crop to approach the desired cleaning levelof crop.
 12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: monitor a baseline load on the motor; compare thebaseline load to the load signal; control the fan speed at least in partbased on the comparison.
 13. The control system of claim 10, wherein theload signal corresponds to a current hydraulic pressure sensed in ahydraulic circuit associated with the motor, wherein the motor is ahydraulic motor.
 14. The control system of claim 13, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: monitor a baseline pressure of thehydraulic circuit; compare the baseline pressure to the currenthydraulic pressure; control the speed of the fan at least in part basedon the comparison.
 15. A harvester comprising: an inlet for receiving acrop including stalks and extraneous plant matter; a blade for cuttingthe stalks into billets and the extraneous plant matter into cutextraneous plant matter; a separator including: a cleaning chamber forat least partially separating the billets and the cut extraneous plantmatter, a crop cleaner for separating portions of the crop in thecleaning chamber, and a hood having a residue outlet; a sensorconfigured to generate a load signal corresponding to a load on theseparator; and a control unit configured to receive the signal from thesensor, wherein the control unit is programmed to quantify the cropejected from the residue outlet based on at least the load signal. 16.The harvester of claim 15, wherein the control unit is programmed toquantify the crop ejected from the residue outlet at least in part bysubtracting a baseline load from a current load to generate a load deltacorresponding to a quantity of the crop passing through the residueoutlet.
 17. The harvester of claim 16, wherein the control unit isfurther programmed to include a conversion factor for expressing thequantity of crop as a function of the load delta.
 18. The harvester ofclaim 15, wherein the separator further includes a motor operativelycoupled to the crop cleaner, wherein the motor is a hydraulic motorcoupled to a hydraulic circuit and wherein the load signal correspondsto a hydraulic pressure associated with the hydraulic circuit.
 19. Theharvester of claim 15, further comprising a global positioning systemgenerating a position signal, wherein the control unit is programmed togeospatially map the crop ejected from the residue outlet based on theposition signal.
 20. The harvester of claim 15, wherein the crop cleanerincludes at least one of a fan, a source of compressed air, a shaker, ora rake.